How to prepare for your (many) interviews

As a rising senior, you will soon be required to go through several interview panels over the next few weeks. 

For example, if you’re applying to a service academy, you will interview with your assigned liaison officer for your preferred branch of service.

• Admissions Liaison Officer (Air Force)
• Blue & Gold Officer (Navy)
• Field Force Rep (West Point)

…or maybe more than one if you’re applying to several service academies.  

You will also have an interview(s) as part of your nomination package if applying to a service academy. This is typically with a panel of people who represent your congressional representative or senator.

If you’re applying for an ROTC scholarship, you will also have an ROTC interview. 

Depending on the colleges you apply to, you may also have an interview(s) with representatives (often alumni) from those colleges as well. 

Needless to say, it’s important that you become a strong interviewee. 

These interviews carry weight in the admissions process and you definitely do not want to go into these unprepared.

Before we get into the specifics of the questions you may be asked (both on the military side and the traditional college side of things), let’s cover the mechanics of an interview in any context (e.g. military environment, virtual environment, job internship, scholarship, or college admissions). 

Since “virtual interviews” have become more popular, let’s start off with some tips for these types of interviews and then we’ll move into tips for the traditional in-person interview. 

VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS

• Posture. Sitting up (or standing) straight doesn’t just make you look more professional, but it also helps you to project your voice and makes you sound more confident by opening up your airways. If you’re sitting, lying down, or even just hunched over, your body (and airway) is compressed and your voice will reflect that. 
• Location, location, location. Ideally, try to find a place that is quiet and well-lit (with natural light if possible). You’d be surprised, but the lighting alone can greatly influence the “feel” of an interview.  If it’s dark and dingy, the interview may take on a negative tone. If it’s bright and airy, it could take on a more positive vibe. With this in mind, please don’t do an interview with the primary light source behind you, as it makes you look like a black silhouette. The interviewer can’t make out any facial features and it’s a bad idea. Natural light (from the outside) or a lighting source from in front of you is much better.  With this in mind, always test your location well before the interview. Have a Skype, Facetime, or Zoom chat with a friend and ask them if anything looks weird or distracting in the background. Do your best to eliminate anything in your environment that could be a distraction. 
• Focus on the camera lens (not at the interviewer’s face on the screen). This means looking at the little lens in the middle of your monitor or phone (aperture). Even though it may feel awkward at first, this will help to simulate “eye contact” with the interviewer. By focusing on the lens, it appears that you’re looking straight at the interviewer rather than with a slightly downward look. Of course, periodically, look at the interviewer’s face and yours on the screen, but do your best to intentionally look into the lens for the majority of the interview. Also, be sure you’ve nailed down details of who’s calling who. You don’t want your potential interviewer waiting for 10 minutes because you were each expecting the other person to dial-in.  Work out those details ahead of time. 
• Smile (even more than you’re used to). If you don’t exaggerate this a little bit on camera, it’s easy to come off as cold and unenthusiastic. The virtual medium has a way of dulling down some of our natural expressions, so you might want to increase your energy and emotion so that you appear eager and engaged. This may be a function of your personality, but in my experience, especially in a virtual setting, I would err on the side of speaking a little too much versus sitting silently for too long and letting the interviewer wonder if you’re paying attention. There’s a balance to be struck here but I would prefer action over inaction. 

IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS

• Dress & Groom Appropriately. Shirt and tie for males or nice blouse for females (this will be a judgment call by you based on the type of interview)
• Be on time (that usually means 15 minutes early, just in case). If you get there early, you can scope out a place to sit or make a last-minute trip to the restroom if you need it. 
• Put the phone away (I mean really away, like in your backpack or purse (and on mute)). Not just sitting face down on the table. But, don’t do this until you actually meet your interviewer in case they are trying to reach you at the last minute. 
• Speak clearly and enunciate (even more so if it’s virtual). Make it easy for the interviewer to understand what you’re saying. Don’t make them strain to hear what you’re saying. 
• Avoid lazy responses like “yeah, or uh-huh”. Instead, respond with “yes” or "yes, sir, yes, ma’am”.
• Pay attention to non-verbal cues. Does the interviewer seem engaged? are they smiling? are they looking at their watch? are they interested in your answers? do they ask follow-up questions? 
• Name game. If you can, refer to the interviewer by their name. Most people like to hear their own names and it shows that you’ve been paying attention. At a minimum, refer to them as “sir” or “ma’am” if appropriate).
• Don’t make stuff up. If you get stumped on a question, don’t hesitate to say “I don’t know the answer to that question but I’ll find out and get back to you”. 
• Small talk. Be prepared for some small talk before or after you get to the actual interview (make sure you know what’s happening in the news, sports, social media, weather, local events, holidays past or upcoming). Make sure you have something to contribute, if appropriate.
• Have a pen and paper (or small notebook) so you’re ready to take notes. If the interviewer gives you a helpful bit of advice, book suggestion, or a podcast recommendation, you want to be ready to write it down.  
• Know your audience. If at all possible, research the person you are talking to. Check out their LinkedIn profile. The more you know about the person ahead of time, the easier it will be for you to identify common points of interest that may help you connect with them in a deeper way. After all, the whole point of an interview is to convince the interviewer that you are a smart, capable, and thoughtful person. Connecting with them on a personal level will go a long way in this effort.  

In a few weeks, we’ll cover the types of questions you should be prepared to answer whether for a military interview, job interview, or an interview with your Air Force Liaison Officer.